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BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



is complete in itself, but may appropriately 

 lead up to a Tree-planting and prize-giving 

 ceremony. One or two workers of ordinary 

 leisure and musical ability may in this way 

 provide an attractive and at the same time 

 useful entertainment, calculated to encourage 

 Bird Protection and the love of nature in 

 the district where they live. 



FISH CULTURE AND THE BIRDS. 



"I have just had the opportunity of paying a 

 visit to the breeding grounds of a Midland Fish 

 Culture Company, through the courtesy of one of 

 its directors. . . . The fishery here consists of eleven 

 fry ponds, eight yearling, and three very large 

 ponds for store fish, these latter weighing from four 

 to eight pounds. 



"My own special interest in the company's 

 grounds originated in the desire to learn how far 

 certain birds — the Kingfisher, the Heron, and even 

 the Coot, who is accused of working havoc in some 

 districts — were regarded as injurious to the interests 

 of fish breeding. 



" I found that the Kingfisher was at one time 

 regarded as detrimental, and Herons also, and it 

 struck me as a very commendable feature of this 

 particular fishery that now neither of these birds 

 is destroyed within the limits of these breeding 

 grounds. 



" And yet a man carrying a gun is always on 

 the spot ? We saw him there beside the water. 

 The ' noble sportsman ' in this case is an iron 

 automaton, life size, neatly dressed in a becoming 

 suit of fresh paint. His machinery is wound up 

 to go off by clockwork at certain intervals, say 

 once an hour; he raisei his gun to his shoulder and 

 fires it with startling effect. I watched the process 

 with great satisfaction. The birds are scared 

 away from the breeding grounds, and can betake 

 themselves to a large brook not far away, where 

 fish have that desideratum of true sport, a fair 

 field," — j, A. Owen in Pall Mall Gazette (July 1th, 

 1909). 



IN THE COURTS. 



The Pole-trap. — Two convictions for the use 

 of the Pole-trap have been obtained in Wales by 

 the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, who 

 sent an Inspector to the Principality in consequence 

 of complaints received of the infringement of the 

 Act of 1904. In the first case, heard at St. Clears 

 on August 10th, William Langdon, gamekeeper 

 to Mr. Dempster, Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, 

 admitted setting three traps, but pleaded ignorance 

 of the law. Mr. James John, for the prosecution, 

 pointed out that the Society had sent out thousands 

 of circulars to bring the Act to the notice of game 

 preservers and gamekeepers, and that a game- 

 keeper, of all persons, ought to be acquainted with 

 the laws affecting birds. The Bench imposed a fine 

 of 5s. and costs, but afterwards reduced it to 



2s. 6d., with 15s. costs of the Inspector's journey 

 from Montgomery. In the second case, heard at 

 Machynlleth on September 1st, John Coakes, Llan- 

 brynmair, was charged with permitting Pole-traps 

 to be set on a Grouse-moor, on property belonging- 

 to Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, but rented by Mr. 

 W. E. Downing. The Society was represented by 

 Mr. Ernest Gillart. Three traps were found on 

 enclosed ground by the Inspector, who revisited 

 the place in company with a policeman. Defendant 

 first denied the existence of the traps, and de- 

 murred to admitting the Inspector and constable ; 

 but, on being advised that the matter would be 

 reported to the Society and to Mr. Downing, 

 eventually took down the instruments, complaining 

 that he had lost many young birds and stating 

 that recently an Owl had been caught in one of the 

 traps. Fined £1. The Inspector's expenses were 

 refused, one of the magistrates assuming that, 

 being supported by voluntary contributions, the 

 Society was "very wealthy." — At Perth, on Sept- 

 ember 28th, the keeper and underkeeper to Mr. 

 K. S. Clark, of Kinnaird House, Perthshire, were 

 charged with a breach of the Pole Trap Act. An 

 officer of the Scottish S.P.C.A., from information 

 received from the R.S.P.B., visited Killiechangie 

 Hill, and found there two traps, one set and the 

 other sprung and holding in its teeth the foot of a 

 bird. The keeper was fined 10s. ; the case against 

 the underkeeper withdrawn. 



The Oeme's Head Ravens.— At Llandudno, 

 on June 21st, William and Jane Isabella Jones 

 were summoned for being in possession of four 

 young Ravens taken from the cliff ; as they pleaded 

 ignorance, and freed the birds at the place where 

 they were taken, the case was dismissed on payment 

 of costs. 



Blrdcatching. — At Slough, on August 9th, Alfred 

 William Smith, of Yiewsle3% was summoned for 

 taking wild birds at Iver and giving a false name 

 and address. Defendant said he was doing nothing 

 wrong, and did not see why he should give his right 

 name. Fined 10s. and costs for each offence. At 

 Leicester, on August 19th, William Wynes and John 

 Deacon were convicted of taking birds at Ashby 

 Magna and with cruelty to decoys. They were 

 found in possession of net, cages, decoys, and six 

 newly-caught Linnets, two of which died the same 

 day. Fined 8s. 6d. each in the first case, with 

 forfeiture of nets, birds, and cages, and 15s. each in 

 the second case. At Luton, on September 6th,« 

 Arthur and Horace Coote were fined £1 each for 

 catching Linnets on the Warden Hills on August 

 17th. The police believed the men did no other 

 work ; they advertised, and sent birds all over the 

 country The nets were confiscated. 



Bird Notes and News (issued quarterly) will 

 be sent post free to any address for Is. per annum, 

 payable in advance ; single numbers, 3d. 



To Members of the Society subscribing 5s. and 

 upwards per annum it is forwarded gratis and post 

 free. 



Printed by Witherby & Co., 326, High Holboin, W.C., and 

 published by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, 

 23, Queen Anne's Gate, S.W. 



